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Imbelani Matibe could not hold back her tears while being photographed with her teacher, Maa-Khoa Thai so Mokoena.

Young Imbelani a runner-up in SADC competition

 

A Grade 11 pupil from Thengwe Secondary has made the area proud by becoming one of the runners-up in the SADC Secondary Schools essay competition.

Imbelani Matibe (16), of Mufulwi village (about 50 kilometers from Thohoyandou), was the best pupil in South Africa during the national competition and she qualified to represent her country in the SADC's 15 member states. She won $500 for being a top learner in South Africa.

During this regional competition held in Gaborone, Botswana, last week, Matibe finished in third position and won $750 and a laptop computer. The competition was held in conjunction with the SADC heads of state summit.

Matibe, president of the learners' representative council at her school, received a hero's welcome when she and her parents arrived at the school last Thursday morning. Fellow pupils stood in a guard of honor from the school's main gate, while a red carpet was also laid out for the entourage to walk on.

In her speech, she thanked her English teacher, Maa-Khaoa Thabiso Mokoena, fellow debaters and parents for helping her to be one of the top three achievers. "The most inspiring moment for me was to shake hands with all 15 heads of state from SADC and to get a kiss on the cheek from Mr Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe," said Matibe.

The acting principal of the school, Ms Tshilidzi Madanda, said that she was happy that
Nemudzivhadi had emulated other previous winners from the school, such as former principal Mr Nkhangweni Nemudzivhadi, who was the best manager in the country, Mr Mashudu Marubini, the best maths teacher nationally, and Rohula Bilankulu, a Grade 12 pupil who won the national moot court competition in 2012.

Matibe was also in the Top 10 in the 2013 South Africa-Germany Essay Competition, part of the team that came first in the Roads Debate 2014, first in the provincial debate of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) last year, and the best speaker in the provincial SAASTA debate this year.

The circuit manager, Mr Takalani Makakavhule, said Matibe's achievement should work as a
motivation for other pupils that anybody can achieve big things despite their geographical location.

Young Imbelani was acknowledged by the Vhembe District Municipality during a council meeting held in Thohoyandou later on the same day. Veteran boxing champion Phillip Ndou, who has recently beaten Shauri Ramadhan from Tanzania in an international non-title fight held in Thohoyandou, was also acknowledged by the municipality, while  newly crowned IBO welterweight champion Tsiko Mulovhedzi was also acknowledged in absentia.

Boxer Phillip Ndou (left) was also acknowledged during the council sitting at Vhembe. Next to him are Exective Mayor Tshitereke Matibe, his promotor, Ms Promise Moyo, and Speaker Mavuyisa Fungheni.

Imbelani Matibe with the Vhembe executive mayor, Cllr Tshitereke Matibe, and  the Speaker of the council, Cllr Claudine Fungheni.

 

Date:28 August 2015

By: Ndivhuwo Musetha

Read: 12297

 

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